Radar recommendation...

I

inkblue

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
RO Number
24914
Messages
705
...looking for something easy to use (hopefully). Any recommendations?

Thanks.

[:-captain][:-dog][:-king][:-pirate]
 
icon_speech_wow.gif
I got some thinking on this to, I like the Furuno 1932MK2, there all easy to use, just hit the on button. I have the JRC 1000 now but want to upgrade , It's easy to use to. I need a bigger screen to see.But my thinking is do you get a mulitly unit that does gps/radar/sounder or just radar + gps+ sounder diffent units?[:-eyebrows]
 
On the low end, spend about $1k, JRC or equal, from there the sky is the limit. Size of boat and mounting options will determine also. Some will inegrate and overlay on your chartplotter. Too much info without your being more specific.

Personal preference here is Furuno.

There are many good articles about radar on the web

Fred
.
 
Low end JRC works fine but radar with more individual adjustment controls is better.
 
we need a little more info, ink. What distance do you want? What is your budget? Do you want a stand alone radar or integrated with a chart plotter?
 
Les, I am also in the market to purchase radar next month (bonus time). Are you shipping the LOWRANCE LCX-37c yet? the lowrance website says it wont ship until mid feb. Also, I would like your opinion on this unit with the LRA-1500 radar dome. I currently have the lowrance net bus installed in my boat so the intall should be nice and easy. Thanks!
 
After using GPS, I've found that radar took a lot of interpretation. You definitely want to practice using Radar on clear days, comparing your image to what you see out in front of you. I'm still not comfortable with looking at images of lumpy cotton candy (land masses), vague smears, (moving boats) and small rectangles.(ships)

I was struggling, so I bought several books on the matter. The one book that made the most sense started off saying " You want to use radar when you can't see out the window. You usually set the radar for 3 miles and use it for collision avoidance" Even so, I switched on the radar and noticed that I couldn't see a nearby sailboat. This is when I realize that I need to work on learning this new instrument. I'm getting better at setting the range, power and clutter controls.

I think the better radars will have sunlight viewable screens and the higher powered radoms. My friends have the big open array Furuno units and they can see the gulls diving on the bait. I've never seen that with my smaller Furuno 1723C.

I remember going with a group of crazed Albacore fishermen out of Santa Cruz. The skipper was going like heck, looking out the cabin window into the gray mist. On the way out, he was was jerking the boat to the starboard and port, dodging crab pot floats. Next to him, his buddy had his face pressed into the radar screen. He was calling out the locations of ships from time to time. Even so, at one point, we heard the deep, teeth vibrating blast of a ship's horn nearby. It was quite an experience.
From this, I learned that the skipper usually keeps an eye out in front of the boat and a second person ran the radar.
 
The biggest mistake I see most people, even professionals, making with radar, is setting the gain controls to high to cut out all clutter. By doing that you lose the ability to see targets with weak returns. Like many sailboats.
 
Joe, the LCX-37c will be available around 2/14 - another couple of weeks.
 
Les, I guess I don't really know what I want... BUT I do know that it has been said here that IF I decide to go to Block Island or LI Sound, I need radar. So I guess that is where my need is...

Thanks for any info.

BUDGET: Well, I just bought a brand new boat and am stocking it, so my budget, to say the least, is TIGHT!
 
PS. I already have a Garmin GPS, so am looking for a standalone radar unit.
 
Ink, the cheaper JRC units should fit your bill, they don't have all the bells and whistles, but they work well.

Make sure you use it on nice days to get used to it, it takes a while to understand what it is showing you.
 
JRC... any model number recommendation?

Also, can I assume a color LCD will be easier to read?
 
Also... (this is gonna sound really stupid) does the radar dome come with it or is that a separate purchase?
 
Come do and some don't You just have to check.
Practicing on clear days is very good advice. Longer range radar can show storms so you can try to avoid them. JRC 1000 is a good starter set up I think it is 16 mile for about $1000. I personally like separate electronics if you lose power with a multi unit you don't have anything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top